My mini thoughts/ theory for episode 11 of star Detective
Yes, I know I'm late on episode reviews, ESPECIALLY on Shiruku and the Cure Eclair candidates but I need to get this off my mind because this episode opened up a lot of doors.
One of the major theories that I had on cure Arcana Shadow was that the reason she is working with the Phantom Thieves Guild is because she too had her own agenda of spreading lies through the world.
To make a long story short ; the theory is Arcana Shadows goal is to protect the world from the lies shielded from a fake truth. Her sentence to the cures "The lie isn't so bad", speaks volumes to a lot of this week's episode when it's revealed that the curator switched the real artifacts with fake artifacts in the museum.
Not only was this part of Arcana's plan despite not retrieving the Makoto Jewel, it all fell into place revealing the truth to the visitors AND the media that the curator lied to them about what is displayed in the museum was not real.
It grows distrust and dishonesty, and even though the curator has understandable intentions to protect the artifacts she was also greedy in her own way. She bargained with the star detectives on wanting to keep pochitan, including her studious if not snobbish behavior of not wanting the cures to help her with all the resources of security in her disposal.
This aligns with Arcana Shadows motivations showing that people can be dishonest and disloyal to those that are trying to help them, if it means protecting what's valuable, telling a lie for the greater good.
Anna's beliefs states lies only cause chaos and disarray, by the seeking the truth can we escape the lies shrouded in darkness.
This belief is challenged, but I like how Arcana Shadow challenges this belief, because like the old saying goes "history is written by the victors". So not everything that Anna sees, hears and believe isn't going to be the truth.
That's why when Luluka (Arcana) ask Anna why people wanted to see the princess jewel it seemed luluka wanted a different answer that's more logical but instead, Anna gave her an answer from the heart how people wanted to see the jewelry for its history and how beautiful it is.
I know that this season won't go too far into making the themes of truths versus lies complicated, but the set-up gearing towards the seasons events unfolding is shockingly good.
This was Luluka testing Anna, to see both side to why people wanting to see the jewelry.
After transforming into Arcana Shadow fighting the star detective cures, Arcana sees that they're not ready still to face the growing threat of the Phantom Thieves Guild, including that they have a long way to go before they can reach Arcana's level.
It shows that Anna and Mikuru still need to understand that the world isn't black and white. That truths are lies beneath the surface blurred to what is an honest "truth".
The idea of the blurred lines between what's the truth and what's a lie, especially when you consider that both Anna and Mikuru had to hide their identities as Precure, anna not being from 1999, along with mikuru also having secrets that are yet to be uncovered.
Overall Cure Arcana Shadow is definitely an antihero for protecting the world from the harsh truths reveal the lies underneath.
Next episode may seem like a red herring as this is mainly just focusing on Lukuka's character rather than her secret. Who knows maybe the secret will reveal to itself but as more of a clue left by the writers for us to piece together.
